Asean: ASEAN and the United States (US) will strengthen cooperation in early detection, genomic surveillance, big data analytics, and One Health approaches as part of efforts to enhance regional health security, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He emphasized the importance of these initiatives during the inaugural ASEAN-US Health Ministers Meeting, which reaffirmed a collective resolve to advance these areas and support the ASEAN Centre for Public Health Emergencies and Emerging Diseases (ACPHEED) and the ASEAN Public Health Emergency Coordination System (APHECS).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dzulkefly highlighted that the adoption of these agenda items marks the beginning of strategic execution rather than the conclusion. The true measure of success, he noted, will be in translating the partnership into scalable, regional solutions that fortify health systems against future threats. These remarks were made during his closing speech as he chaired the 1st ASEAN-US Health Ministers' Meeting, held in conjunction with the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting (AHMM) and related meetings.
Dzulkefly also mentioned the development of the successor ASEAN-US Health Cooperation Work Plan 2027-2030, which aims to align collaborative actions with the ASEAN Strategic Health Agenda (ASHA) 2026-2030. He acknowledged key accomplishments under the 2022-2025 Work Plan, which focused on laboratory capacity strengthening, workforce development, and infection prevention and control.
Through the Joint Statement of the 1st ASEAN-US Health Ministers Meeting, Dzulkefly emphasized the commitment to centering ASEAN unity, multiplying regional impact, and safeguarding health security. He pointed out that the partnership would bring together technical expertise, laboratory networks, and public health capacity to bolster regional resilience.
In his opening remarks, Dzulkefly stated that the ministerial-level goal was to anchor regional resilience in equity, protect vulnerable populations, and secure long-term health security for citizens. He noted that Malaysia, as co-chair of this historic inaugural meeting, understands that public health threats do not recognize national borders. The strategic focus of the Roundtable Discussion, titled "Centering ASEAN, Multiplying Impact: A Multilateral Blueprint for Sustainable Health Systems and Security," directly addresses the critical convergence of emerging health threats, demographic shifts, climate impacts, and rapid technological change.